Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic has welcomed the challenge his side faces in the hot Parramatta Eels on Saturday, declaring them the 'benchmark' team of the competition.
It's shaping up to be one of the games of the round, with the 3-0 Eels flying atop the NRL ladder after last week's emphatic win over Brisbane and the Sea Eagles not too far behind after Sunday's 32-6 drubbing of the Bulldogs.
Parramatta have been the talk of the revised NRL season so far, with the in-form club vying to end the codes longest-standing premiership drought of 32 years.
With Manly showing last year's against-the-odds finals finish was no fluke with their form so far this year, Trbojevic said the meeting with the Eels comes at a good time.
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"It will be a tough task for us, Parra are probably the benchmark of the competition at the moment," the Sea Eagles gun told Big Sports Breakfast.
"It's going to be a tough opposition for us but we're just going to go out there and do our best."
The Eels have been the competition's biggest point-scorers having notched up 88 points over their three games, led impressively by in-form halves Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown.
But Trbojevic said Manly have set their sights on nullifying the go-forward of their Saturday opponents' forward pack.
"They're a very big pack and are very aggressive. They like to get on top of teams by showing their aggression and then those players like Gutho, Mitch Moses and Dylan Brown come into the game," he said.
"It'll be a big job for our middles. We'll just be playing the best we can and going there and doing the best we can."
Trbojevic himself had the perfect game against the Bulldogs on Monday, crossing for two first-half tries as well as running for 200 metres and notching up three try assists.
The match-up against his opposite number and Eels captain Clint Gutherson is shaping up to be a mouth-watering battle of the fullbacks and it's one Trbojevic can't wait for.
"He's a local Northern Beaches guy, he's a great fella, he's a great footy player and he was awesome for Parra last weekend," Trbojevic said of Gutherson.
"He's just always around the ball. He doesn't miss any opportunities, he's very fit and he's very energetic. He's their leader and he's their captain. He doesn't really miss a beat."
In a huge boost for Manly going into Saturday's blockbuster clash is news bustling centre Moses Suli has inked a new two-year extension with the club.
The Tongan international, who NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler recently shortlisted for State of Origin in the future, reportedly snubbed a mega offer from the Dragons to remain on the Northern Beaches.
Trbojevic said Suli's retention was a major coup for the rising club.
"He's a quality footballer, he's a very big centre and very mobile. He does a great job for his size," he said.
"He was awesome for us on the weekend and he's been great for us over the last couple of years so we're really excited to keep him on board."
